I refuse to indulge in any long-winded hyperbole about this title; I think the Warner Bros. marketing team have done enough of that. I'm not going to rant on about how this is a game within a film and the only way you're going to fully understand the latest Matrix movie is by playing through it. I won't say anything about the fact that it was written and directed by the Wachowski Brothers, the ones responsible for the cinematic trilogy and I hope to god that I don't use the phrase 'interactive movie' at any point in this review. Similarly, I don't wish to cite the numerous movie tie-ins of dubious quality, make comparisons with Atari's last effort (Terminator: Dawn of Fate) or judge Enter The Matrix on anything other than its merit as a videogame. All I offer you is the truth, so only read on if you want to take the red pill.

Enter The Matrix picks up where the Animatrix left off, with Captain Niobe and her sidekick Ghost searching for a package deposited in the Matrix by the doomed crew of the Osiris. The parcel contains some information vital to the salvation of Zion and from here the narrative drives the game with unstoppable force as you seek to counter the threat of the machines that are putting every effort into wiping out all remaining human resistance.

This is far more of a plot-driven game than I have ever witnessed; not even Final Fantasy VII had me anticipating the next cut scene as much as this does. Most of the short objectives are rounded out with a scrap of storyline or scripted occurrence, changing the goal of the level or adding a new danger. The cut scenes themselves come in the form of either in-game engine snippets or live action footage, complete with actors from The Matrix Reloaded. It wouldn't be fair to say any more about the plot, or how it's played out, as one of the most gratifying things about this title is the way in which it lives up to your expectations one hundred per cent with the storyline. If you want to know if Keanu is in Enter The Matrix, I'm not telling you - go look in the back of the manual if you're that eager!

The all-important gameplay is truly wonderful and about as action packed as you could ever wish for. Very much in the vein of Rockstar's Max Payne your chosen character traverses dozens of simple and not-so-simple levels in a third person perspective. There are exceptions to this, in that every now and again you are required to perform different actions, such as sniper and driving based missions. Due to the high intensity of the main thrust of the game, these are a very welcome addition and break it up nicely so that play never becomes repetitive at any stage.

Every section of the gameplay is exquisitely executed and holds up very well against other third person titles. The melee combat is dealt with superbly, with innumerable combos and fancy Kung-Fu manoeuvres totally in keeping with the films' classy fight scenes - there's nothing more fulfilling than taking out five SWAT guys using nothing but your fists, feet and an overwhelmingly stylish fashion sense. Everything from the films can be done in the game, from running up walls, to diving from rooftops, to one-handed cartwheel tricks; it's all done with such amazing quality and with the addition of the focus meter, it's even more stunning.

Those of you familiar with Max Payne will no doubt see the resemblance when playing Enter The Matrix, as you're given a gauge to indicate how much focus you have and utilising this bar allows you to not only slow time but perform many feats you would otherwise not be able to carry out. This form of 'Bullet Time' is an essential part of the game, with it activated you can dodge bullets, make enormous jumps and increase your accuracy, meaning that at times it really does feel like you're watching a movie, with all the slow-mo stand offs and high kicking high jinks that you can take.

What staggered me most about this title was the simplicity of it all. If you were to boil it down you would have an incredibly linear game based on the constant removal of bad guys. This, far from being a problem, really enhances the experience and with such a variety of ways to dispatch the nasty men with guns, you are always left wanting more. Another example of the straightforwardness of the gameplay is the mission objectives - they are almost always 'get from point A to point B' and sometimes last less than a minute. There are very few pickups to be had and your progress through the levels is wholly reliant on your ability to kick ass. Even with all the weapons at your disposal, you don't need to use them if you don't feel like it; it all depends on how you want to disarm the next group of machine gun toting SWATs or ever-present agents.

Although there is an element of stealth available to you, should you wish to go down that road, it isn't particularly useful and doesn't fit with the feel of the game. What is nice, however, is the addition of innocent bystanders and realistic locations. There are no secret rooms filled with guns and health icons, very few buttons to press and switches to find and no penalty for 'accidentally' popping a cap in a panic-stricken member of the general public. Another nice thing about the locations is the ease with which you are able to traverse the level maps, allowing for some all-out action, rather than the mindless wandering so common in this genre.

The musical score, having an intensely exciting air about it, is of the calibre set by the films, adding a taut and electrifying ambiance to the already exhilarating gameplay. This musical class is surpassed only by the unquestionable quality of the voice acting, which features some excellent dialogue and really expands upon the engrossing narrative. Unlike many releases in the past, whose attitude to live action sequences has been one of apathy, this title manages to meld the cut scenes into the gameplay with little trouble, making the missions ever more intense and enjoyable.

The graphics aren't really up to the standard of the rest of the title, however, and whilst they don't take away from the gameplay, you do get the feeling that this is a game better suited to the Xbox than the PS2. That said, they are more than adequate and the animation and frame rate are top notch, even in the most intense of battles. All of the environments are nicely suited to the gameplay and despite being a little frugal at points, they give you the feeling of realism (or virtual realism) required to get fully immersed in the game. Mercifully, the camera does its job flawlessly, with no jumpiness or moments of confusion, which helps to keep the frustration level to an absolute minimum.

Any problems Enter The Matrix has are massively outweighed by the sheer quality of the whole package but the main drawback is with the loading, which is sometimes a little intrusive due to the frequency of the loading interruptions. Some of the bosses are frustratingly obstinate and some sections of the game become irritating and it can really dampen the impact of the preceding cut scene after you've seen it twenty times.

In addition to the regular mode of play, there is a 'hacking' option, where you are given the chance to alter your character with codes. This is simply a cheat option and has a few nice extras but doesn't do a great deal for the longevity. If you're anything like me, you'll be left wanting more; that's not because of the length of the title - as with two separate characters, there's a respectable amount of play here - but more because of the pure class of the game. In the same way that watching The Matrix imbues you with the desire to be as cool as Neo, or as deeply meditative as Morpheus, playing Enter The Matrix leaves you thinking "I know Kung-Fu!"

Now I have given you a glimpse of the rabbit's hole, do you dare to go down it? My advice would be yes, go as far as you can. With its delightfully satisfying gameplay, fantastic effects and enthralling narrative, Enter The Matrix offers a tremendous opportunity to dive in deeper, making it a game that fans of the film and action gamers alike will take great pleasure in playing. It is by far the best movie tie-in I have ever played and one of the finest action titles available for PS2, so don some black PVC clothing, get yourself a copy, jack yourself in and prepare to Enter The Matrix.

Reviewed by Tom Leclerc for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).